Letters to the Editor

SWEET SWEAT
A week on and I still have a strong vision of the sexy men at Sweat last week.
Congratulations to the guys who were involved in putting it on. It was the friendliest and sexiest crowd I have seen in Sydney for a long time. I am definitely keen to see this great night continue on in force.
Sounds of Miami, men, muscle, music really hit the spot and is what the strip has been calling for for a long time.
Keep up the good work, Phoenix, and keep this party happening and I know you will have me and all my mates there when we hear that Sweat is on.
­— Muz
DOUBLE STANDARDS
If it’s good enough to include blue-chip companies in the Mardi Gras parade because they are “a big supporter of the gay and lesbian communty”, why is it not good enough to include ratbag grassroots activist groups, who are also big supporters of the gay and lesbian community, and have been for much much longer than the corporates (who only became gay-friendly because of the agitation of activists such as those who are now banned from particpating in an animal rights entry in the parade)?
The Fat Tuesday corporation is ensuring its irrelevance to cultural change, and has instead become a window dresser for big business.
— norrie mAy-welby
Cruel decision
That’s it, New Mardi Gras. We’ve had enough.
For years my friends and I have watched the parade from the sidelines because, while we are proud, out and happy to be GLBTQI, there has never been a float that truly reflects our beliefs or lifestyle choices, until the Animal Liberation float.
New Mardi Gras’ decision to cancel Animal Liberation’s Cruelty To Chickens float is despicable and totally bigoted.
Just because meat-eaters don’t like to be reminded of the suffering that their food undergoes does not give New Mardi Gras the right to silence Animal Liberation, or any other float speaking up in representation of GLBTQI within our communities.
GLBTQI animal activists are as much a part of our community as bankers, police, DJs and travel agents — and we are thoroughly disgusted we have been told we have no right to representation in the Mardi Gras parade. This is not acceptable, and extremely prejudicial.
There is so much more to being part of our diverse community than New Mardi Gras would have us believe.
It seems with each passing parade our multi-coloured flag represents the colour of our money rather than reflecting the depth of our expanding queer culture. Shame on you, New Mardi Gras.
— Sandi, Neon and Kelly
NO NUDISTS
Animal Liberation NSW should be grateful they’ve been in Mardi Gras. Nudists never have been (‘Parade decision “unfair”’, SSO 1008).
As a special event, New Mardi Gras could seek a permit from the police and council allowing a nude entry, but chooses not to. So now the animal rights activists experience firsthand just how fascist our community has become.
Imagine excluding queer folk, whatever they represent, while allowing the greed factor, represented by the ANZ, in.
— Stuart
Haiti Funds
On January 12, an earthquake registering 7 on the Richter scale devastated Haiti. Government statistics show that over 230,000 people lost their lives, with over a million people left displaced in their own country.
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and this earthquake has left it without any infrastructure, food, security, shelter and hospitals.
I wanted to do something to help and asked on Facebook if there were “any DJs or performers interested in raising some money for the people of Haiti.” The response was overwhelming and a fundraiser was held at the Bank Hotel on February 7.
I would like to thank all the DJs: GI Jode, David DC, Brett Austin, Bobby Blaze, Alex Taylor, Jack McCord, Man Lie, Gavyn Vincze and Mandy Rollins; all the performers: Kyla, Boogaloo Crew, Reel Sessions, Kristen Pearson, The Groove Academy, Julia Clarke, Natalie Conway, Michelle Martinez, Virgil Reality, Meem, Alex Almeida, Dale Stephen, Alexandria Osborne and La Fiesta Sound System for so generously donating their time and talents on the day.
I would also like to thank the volunteers, Dimitra, Craig and Tanya who gave up their Sunday to sell raffle tickets and man the donation bins. A big thank you to Brad Ngata, Palazzo Versace, Hed Kandi, Tooheys and the Bank Hotel for donating prizes for the raffle.
Thanks to all the media, especially SX News, Sydney Star Observer and famemonster.com.au, for their extensive editorial support. Thanks to Jake Harvey for producing the great artwork and the Bank Hotel staff and management for hosting the event and generously contributing from their bar sales.
A massive thank you to all the punters who braved the inclement weather and came down to be entertained by Sydney’s finest DJs and performers and helping to raise a grand total of $4921.40 which will be going directly to the Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Appeal.
Thank you all for caring!
— Scott Pullen, Director,
The Groove Academy
BIG KISS
Sydney Central CAAH wants to thank everyone who attended the No More Forbidden Love Valentine’s Day event we held over the weekend with IDAHO Sydney and the kiss-in crew.
Your support made it a success and, despite the rain, your support for the campaign for equal marriage rights is saluted.
We also thank the Oxford Hotel for their support with the event and recognise them for supporting Marriage Equality, and the rest of the community groups around Australia who held similar events as part of the National Year of Action for Equal marriage rights have really helped kickstart the NYA here in Sydney.
See you all at Mardi Gras, and the March 20 Rally for Equal Marriage, 1pm, Town Hall!
— Sydney Central CAAH